Monday, November 8, 2010

ON THE ROAD: BMW X5 M





    Why so subtle?
    Good question. I guess lately BMW is all about being subtle. M buffs will probably point out a few pieces of kit found only in the X5/ X6 M, such as a new front spoiler, sportier air ducts, side skirts, that M badge on the sides, a different rear bumper and of course those four tailpipes. But put it next to its chief rivals and you’ll see how understated it actually is, especially against the ML 63 AMG and the SRT-8. Those puny 20-inch wheels don’t help the cause either.


    Interior makes up for it though, right?
    I wish I could say that were the case. But it’s not. Solid as any new X5 on the market, the interior is BMW perfect as expected. The surfboard-shaped dash features an M steering wheel with an M emblem at the bottom, M stitching, an M speedometer reaching 300km/h, some multifunctional buttons for things like controlling the sound system and changing chassis settings, that beautiful gear lever, Bluetooth connectivity, a 16-speaker boom box, a panoramic sunroof, carbon-feel materials and other bits. Again, unless you know your M cars, there’s not much proclaiming “I’m an X5 with volcano under my bum” here.

    Looks can be deceiving, they say
    No truer statement has been said, because as soon as you push that accelerator pedal hard, magical things begin to happen. Before that though, you have to push the key into a hole, then push the start button. A reluctant mumble emanates from the engine bay and the four tailpipes. I say reluctant because it never really announces its arrival this X5 M. Well, not until you start to change gears. Honestly I’ve heard better sounding super SUVs than this.

    Is it all about sound though?
    I’d say that plays a major role. You buy a sports performance SUV for the entire package, including how it freaks out the neighbours and other road users with its grumbling. Anyway, back to the accelerator, which, when working in tandem with M Drive (just choose Sport, M Dynamic Mode, put it in S on the gear lever or use the paddles), flattens anything in sight. Very few sports cars can challenge the might brought down by the X5 M on acceleration, as our figures contest. Using the paddles behind the steering wheel requires a delicate balance between grinding out maximum power and shifting at the right revs. Overcook it in first gear and the 6-speed Steptronic gearbox will take another second to change up, inducing an all-round heads-forward motion for each passenger.

    As the gears go higher and higher the blips become more and more entertaining. It sounds almost like a Zeus burp each time you change as it works through the cross-bank exhaust manifold and tailpipes. Awesome! And yes, the overall engine sound is still quite mute but admittedly satisfying. Drive it this way day in and out and you’ll visit the petrol station as often as fuel tankers.

    What about cornering?
    Remember, this is an X5 so that ain’t no problem at all. Well, for a car of its size and nature anyway. X5 has always been a class-leader in terms of handling and the performance M model is no different in its segment. Using sophisticated apparatus, including xDrive AWD (which varies torque between the axles as needed), torque is increased on the outer wheel when cornering. This gives it better directional stability and control, even in the wet. Of course one cannot simply ignore physics, so do be careful this rainy season as well. Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) is part of the solution too but does not intrude unnecessarily when not needed.

    Capable overall?
    If by capable you mean it can climb rocks and challenge the Njesuthi, no. There’s even pavements you should not attempt when driving the X5 M. But as a car-like SUV with megapower (put aside the relative anonymous looks) and super performance, nothing else is worth looking at. Or at least, if there is, we haven’t driven it.

    QUICK STATS
    BMW X5 M
    ENGINE: 4.4-litre (4395 cc) V8 twin turbo
    GEARBOX: 6-speed M Sport automatic
    POWER: 408kW at 6000rpm
    TORQUE: 680Nm between 1500rpm and 5650rpm
    0 – 100KM/H: 5.3 seconds
    TOP SPEED: 250km/h
    FUEL AVERAGE: 20.0 l/100km
    FUEL RANGE: 425km (combined)
    CO2 e: 379 g/km
    PRICE STANDARD: R1 255 500 (R20 030.37 C02 tax excluded)

    NATURAL RIVALS: Audi Q7 V12 TDI, BMW X6 M, Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8, Land Rover Range Rover Sport 5.0 V8 Supercharged, Mercedes-Benz ML 63 AMG, Porsche Cayenne Turbo

    *PRICE RIVALS: Nissan GT-R, Jaguar XKR, Land Rover Range Rover Sport 5.0 V8 Supercharged

    BABE-MAGNETIC FACTOR: Very High


    *A price rival falls within R20 000 or so of the subject’s price on either side of its price spectrum for cars over R350 000, R10 000 for cars of between R250 000 and R350 000 and R5 000 for cars below R250 000.

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